Buenos Aires - Advanced Spanish Immersion

Overview

You read, write, and speak Spanish well—so why not take your education to the next level? Live and study in Buenos Aires, where the local people are open and interested in speaking Spanish with you and helping you learn their language, history, and cultures.

Specially designed for students with advanced Spanish language proficiency, our program allows you to build on your language skills as you immerse yourself in the culture of Argentina. In addition to advanced language study at our Buenos Aires Center, you choose from a variety of Spanish-taught IES Abroad area studies courses focusing on the following areas:

Literature & the Arts

People, Politics & Economies of Latin America

You can enroll in courses at local universities, including the Universidad Torcuato di Tella, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and the Pontifica Universidad Católica Argentina, where you’ll experience the Argentine educational system first-hand and enjoy access to local student activities. Maybe you’ll make some Argentine friends while you’re at it.

Buenos Aires will be your classroom. During your semester in Buenos Aires, you’ll participate in more than 30 cultural events and trips, taking you in and around the city to experience life as a local resident does and better understand the city’s cultures. Perfect your Spanish skills and make new friends while chatting with local students in between classes. Enjoy social events at the IES Abroad Center with language partners and Argentine students. In Buenos Aires, you can add international work experience to your résumé while earning credit by participating in an internship placement and accompanying academic seminar. You can also enroll in a service learning course that helps you understand some of Buenos Aires’ most pressing social issues, while contributing your skills toward a community-driven solution.

We want you to feel at home in Buenos Aires, so we do everything we can to help you integrate into life in the city. From housing to cultural events, our job is to make sure you have the most authentic study abroad experience possible.

Quick Facts

Center: IES Abroad Buenos Aires

City: Buenos Aires

Country: Argentina

Program Credits: 15-19 per semester (5-6 courses)

Language of Instruction: Spanish

Language Prerequisites: 4 or more semesters of college-level Spanish

Program Dates

After you are admitted, refer to the Travel Dates section of the Predeparture Information in your MyIESabroad account before booking travel.

Fall 2018

July 28 - November 24 (IES Abroad courses only)

July 28 - November to December (Partner university courses)

Spring 2019

Late February - Late June (IES Abroad courses only)

Late February - mid to late July (Partner university courses)

Upcoming Application Deadlines:

Spring 2019 - November 15, 2018

Fall 2019 - November 15, 2018

Academics

Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. We offer unique courses that explore Argentine Language, History, and Culture, as well as other topics, through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors and course options at prestigious local universities enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class. All students enrolled in Advanced Spanish Immersion are required to take at least Argentina Today, an area studies course offered only at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Argentina (UCA). Alternate options are available for students who would like to take Spanish-taught courses. While in Buenos Aires, you must take 15–19 credit hours per semester. You customize your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional program components:

IES Abroad Spanish language course (required, 4 credits)

Partner University Course at UCA, UTDT or UBA* (required)

Argentina Today (UCA) (1 credit)

Spanish-taught course (generally 3-4 credits)

Spanish writing clinics (3 credits)

Spanish-taught IES Abroad Area Studies courses (3 credits)

IES Abroad internship or service learning placement (3 credits)

*Students must select at least one partner university course.

Academic Symposium

Throughout the semester, you’ll work with faculty on a specific research project, and are invited to present your paper (in English or Spanish) to the entire Center community. Papers can be based on specific academic course-related projects or on students’ study abroad experiences, can be in Spanish or English, and are published at the end of the semester. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to hone your research, writing, and public presentation skills which will serve you well in your future endeavors, both academic and professional.

Courses

This is a list of planned course offerings. A final list of course offerings will be made available to you in your MyIESabroad account.

Anthropology

AN 364 - The Making of Patagonia: An Interdisciplinary Approach (Fall, Spring)

To further enhance your linguistic development, you are required to take at least one partner university course. Course offerings vary by semester and final course listings are not available until right before the start of the semester. For that reason, you will register for partner university courses on-site. When you enroll in a course at a partner university, you will commute to class just like the local students do.

Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)

Since 1821, UBA has played an important role in the social and political life of Argentina and has become the largest university in the country. The Universidad de Buenos Aires is one of the oldest and most prestigious public universities in Argentina. You can enroll in select courses offered by the Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Courses are available in the disciplines below. Final course offerings and specific course prerequisites will be given on-site.

Communications

Labor Relations

Political Science

Sociology

Universidad Torcuato di Tella (UTDT)

The Universidad Torcuato di Tella is a non-profit institution founded in Buenos Aires in 1991 by the Institute and the Torcuato di Tella Foundation. It is a small private university that attracts students from throughout South America. Because of the strong academic rigor of this university, you must have a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum of five semesters of Spanish to enroll in courses. You must also receive an appropriate placement on a Spanish language assessment, and submit additional application materials. Courses are available in the disciplines below. For a list of courses available to you as an international student at UTDT, visit their course catalog.

Business

Economics

Political Science

History

International Relations

Law

Marketing

Social Sciences

Location & Commute Time

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Argentina (UCA)

Founded in 1958, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina is a leading university that is internationally recognized. UCA enrolls approximately 22,000 students, hosting about 700 international students each year from 40 countries. You will enroll in the Argentina Today course for 1 credit, or in at least one other University course. Additional courses are available in the disciplines below:

Business & Economics

Philosophy & Humanities

Psychology

Social, Political & Communication Sciences

Service Learning

In addition to internship opportunities, IES Abroad Buenos Aires also offers a unique service learning seminar opportunity for IES Abroad credit, with homeschool approval. The English-taught service learning seminar focuses on social, cultural, and economic factors with particular emphasis on the role that human rights plays in Argentine history and society. You are placed according to your interests as a volunteer with one of Argentina's many active civic organizations. Additional exciting class field work visits further enrich the seminar and volunteer placement components. You fulfill a minimum of eight hours per week or a total of 112 hours throughout the semester at the Service Learning placement. Examples of the types of Service Learning placements students have had in the past include:

NGO specializing in Microcredit: Students worked in the communication, fundraising, and research department.

Human Rights Organization: Students had the opportunity to translate special materials, public outreach, coverage of public events, updating databases, and other administrative tasks.

Educational and Career building Organization: taught specialized English classes, and other IT support responsibilities.

Evaluations and Academic Credits You complete written assignments in addition to field work visits, and volunteer placements. With homeschool approval you receive 3 credits and a grade for the seminar based on your performance at the assigned volunteer placement, participation in seminar sessions, and various assignments.

Course-Related Excursions

Course-related excursions are academic trips associated with courses. They are organized to complement IES Abroad courses and contribute to a general knowledge of Argentine culture and society. Participation is based on course registration. Past examples of short course-related excursions include:

La Casa de Los Conejos in La Plata

Graffiti walking tour

Museums in Buenos Aires

Neighborhood tours

Theaters in Buenos Aires

EXTENDED COURSE-RELATED EXCURSION

Students in The Making of Patagonia course traveled to Patagonia, a region in southern Argentina, which is famous for its picturesque beauty.

Internships

Interning abroad as part of your study abroad experience will help distinguish your application for graduate school or a job opportunity in today’s competitive market. It’s an exhilarating challenge, and we’re here to help guide you in securing your placement and succeeding in your internship. Participating in an internship abroad helps you:

Add international work experience to your resume

Gain real work experience and skills

Build your confidence

All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship.

Available Fields

Past students have interned in the following fields. Don’t see your field listed here? Just talk to your IES Abroad Advisor—new internships are always being added.

Arts & Museums

Business/Marketing

Education

Journalism/Communication

Public Health

Housing

We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Buenos Aires, it will feel like home.

Homestays - Live in a centrally-located homestay with local residents. This is a great option if you’d like to improve your language fluency and immerse yourself in the local culture. Twelve meals are provided per week.

Student Life

Orientation

The program begins with an orientation that introduces you to our Buenos Aires staff, your fellow students, and the city of Buenos Aires. Topics such as academics, housing, transportation, and health and safety are covered. Language instruction and an introduction to colloquial Spanish in Argentina are additional components of the orientation. You will also receive academic advising and will register for IES Abroad and partner university courses. Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.

Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events

Redefine the way you live and learn in Buenos Aires through our cultural events and activities, such as:

A visit to a lively, local market in the Mataderos neighborhood

Guest lectures on history, politics, and contemporary issues

Tours of San Telmo, Recoleta and Teatro Colón

An exciting evening at the Madero Tango Dinner and Tango Show

Eligibility Requirements

18 years of age

In good standing at your home school

2.75 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale (GPAs under 2.75 will be considered on a case-by-case basis)

4 semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent

Enrolled in a Spanish course within the year prior to the program start date

Passport & Visa Requirements

A passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the end date of the program, with at least two blank pages is required. U.S. citizens in possession of a valid passport do not need to obtain a visa predeparture to enter Argentina. Upon admission, you will receive more information about obtaining the required student visa/residence permit on-site and any related fees. Non-U.S. citizens may be required to obtain a student visa prior to arrival.

Cost

Fall 2018

Tuition: $12,880

Housing: $3,090

Insurance: $230

Total: $16,200

Academic Year

Tuition: $23,170

Housing: $6,180

Insurance: $550

Total: $29,900

Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.